IIM-C going in for curriculum overhaul

To keep its students up-to-date with new management and business strategies, the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) is going in for a major curriculum overhaul after a gap of nearly eight years. The last time it did this exercise was in 1999.

A skeletal framework of the revised curriculum has been submitted to the board of governors and the faculty. A final call will be taken in another two months with the new curriculum scheduled to be introduced from the 2008 session.

"So far, we have been able to decide on the framework. We should be able to take a final call on what we should include and what all should be dropped from the current curriculum in another two months," said Shekhar Chaudhuri, director, IIM-C.

"Although all teachers at IIM-C keep making changes to the syllabus from time to time, a major curriculum overhaul is done after every 10 years or so. This is important to ensure that IIM-C will teach what is latest and best in business and management. Also the course itself should be likeable to the students and at par with other overseas institutes so that there is ease during student exchange programmes and cross-cultural learning," Chaudhuri explained.

The revised curriculum will be a mix of topics that would include subjects that have been the trademark of the institute and at the same time new subjects that reflect a trend in business management programmes across the globe.

So, while theory, finance and analysis will continue to be a part of the curriculum, courses in behavioural science, conflict management, psychology, human values, business communication and entrepreneurship development could also be included.

The new syllabus is also likely to be a mix of case studies, problem solving in real life and at the same time include the traditional method of theory and finance.

"We have looked into the syllabus of some of the best B-schools of the world, like Wharton-Kellog, Harvard, University of Chicago," added Chaudhuri.

The new syllabus would also include feedback taken from the faculty, students and the alumni. Once the framework is approved, the faculty at IIM-C may need to go in for a short training on the new curriculum before it is finally rolled out in 2008.

Preview of the revised syllabus

Theory, finance and analysis to stay

Behavioural science, conflict management, psychology, human values, business communication and entrepreneurship development could also be included

Likely to be a mix of case studies and problem-solving in real life

Cues taken from some of the best B-schools of the world -- Wharton-Kellog, Harvard and University of Chicago

Will be finally rolled out in 2008